The death of a fourth southern resident killer whale this year -- this time, an 18-year-old female just entering breeding age -- has dealt a crippling blow to the future of the iconic, yet highly endangered species in the Salish Sea.

Lolita is a 43 year old captive killer whale (orca) living at the Miami Seaquarium in Florida. Since her capture in 1970, she has been kept in a tank that is illegal by the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) standards for size requirements.

ORLANDO
For the first time since the accident that killed a SeaWorld trainer, the park is putting on a new killer whale show.
SeaWorld Orlando will debut an new killer whale show this spring and summer.
The trainers have stayed out of the water ...

Tilikum was captured from the wild and taken from his family in 1983. November marks the 27th anniversary of his miserable life in captivity.
He has spent most of his years at the SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida. He is the largest male orca in captivity,

Now, right here in America, some people have imprisoned a dog inside a box barely bigger than his own body. The box has solid sides, and the dog can only see out if he jumps up and peers over them. He has been locked in the box for months. To add to the

Tilikum killed his trainer Dawn Brancheau at Orlando's Seaworld this past year. He has suffered 30 years of confinement and abuse and now he is kept in a pool not much bigger than his own body. He weighs more than 12,000 pounds.

Hundreds of organizations support the proposal to return Lolita (Tokitae) to her native waters. As the public turns away from holding whales and dolphins in captivity, the marine park industry is responding by ending the practice.